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The Office of the State Engineer is charged with administering the state's water resources. The State Engineer has jurisdiction over the supervision, measurement, appropriation, and distribution of all surface and groundwater in New Mexico, including streams and rivers that cross state boundaries. The State Engineer is also Secretary of the Interstate Stream Commission and oversees its staff. The Interstate Stream Commission is charged with separate duties including protecting New Mexico¿s rights to water under eight interstate stream compacts, and ensuring the state complies with each of those compacts.

The Water Rights Abstract Bureau (WRAB) is a bureau within the Water Rights Allocation Program (WRAP), which is one of four programs within the OSE: WRAP, Litigation and Adjudication Program (LAP), Program Support, and the Interstate Stream Commission.

The WRAB is primarily responsible for entry of water rights documents into the agency's water rights database and imaging of the paper documents.
Why does the job exist?

This entry-level position researches and enters water right information and data from throughout the state into an Office of the State Engineer (OSE) water rights database, which is used by agency personnel, other governmental agencies, and the public. The position tracks and receives documents from district offices; enters information from the documents into the water rights database; quality assures the data; images the documents using a commercial scanner and scanning software; and quality assures the images.

The incumbent is responsible for filing and/or archiving the documents locally or delivering them to the State Records Center and Archive.

During the record entry process, the position may be required to review point of diversion and place of use locations, to include legal descriptions on surveys and deeds, and precisely determine locations using Geographic Information System applications.

This position also responds to questions from the OSE district office staffs; trains agency staff members on data entry procedures; and provides quality control of trainees' work.
How does it get done?

The job requires the employee to have a knowledge and understanding of New Mexico water law, the rules and regulations of the State Engineer, and the administrative procedures of the Office of the State Engineer. The employee must be attentive to detail to accurately transcribe information from paper records into a relational database and quality assure the electronic record. The employee operates a commercial scanner and scanning software to create a true image of the paper record. The employee must be familiar with state rules relating to public records, records management, and records retention.
Who are the customers?

This job primarily supports the staff of the OSE Water Rights Division through maintenance of electronic water rights records. In addition, other agency personnel, governmental and private entities, and the general public make use of the database and electronic records maintained by this position.
Ideal Candidate

This job primarily supports the staff of the OSE Water Rights Division through maintenance of electronic water rights records. In addition, other agency personnel, governmental and private entities, and the general public make use of the database and electronic records maintained by this position.
Minimum Qualification

High School Diploma or equivalent and four (4) years of relevant experience. Substitutions Apply. See Substitution Table below.
Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of date of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Working Conditions

Employees must be able to work in the office, at a desk working long hours on a computer with dual monitors. Speak on a corded telephone for extended periods of time. Travel will be required to alternate work sites and at times may include overnight stay. This position will drive a state vehicle and be able to lift 40 lb. boxes that at times may be physical and have large volumes of paper documents.
Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Chris Gallegos (505) 388-4118. Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.